WASHINGTON CO. RESEARCHING GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION DISTRICTS

  

Washington County officials are exploring the workings of groundwater conservation districts (GCDs). 

County commissioners attended a workshop on Monday at the Bluebonnet GCD in Navasota for the purpose of gaining a greater understanding of how GCDs operate.

GCDs have authority to regulate the spacing of water wells or the production from them.  They are either created by the Texas Legislature or by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality through a local petition process.

At the workshop, Adam Foster with the Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts gave a presentation on the structure, responsibilities and purpose of GCDs.  Representatives from neighboring districts were in attendance, including Bluebonnet, Post Oak Savannah, Fayette County and Brazos Valley, allowing for questions and open dialogue on how the districts function.

According to the Texas Water Development Board, GCDs cover nearly 70 percent of the area of the state.  There are 98 GCDs in the state, including 60 that operate as single-county district and 38 that serve multiple counties.  GCDs overlay approximately 72 percent of major and minor aquifers.

GCDs around Washington County are Bluebonnet (Austin, Grimes, Walker, Waller counties); Brazos Valley (Brazos and Robertson counties); Colorado County; Fayette County; Lost Pines (Bastrop and Lee counties); and Post Oak Savannah (Burleson and Milam counties).

Click here to view a map of groundwater conservation districts in Texas.

The county says the workshop offered an opportunity to gather valuable information as it continues its research on GCDs.  It says the commissioners court “remains committed to fully understanding the options and impacts before determining the best path forward.”